Lightweight Cellular Hollow Concrete Blocks Containing Volcanic Tuff Powder, Expanded Clay and Diatomite for Non-Load Bearing Walls

Abstract

Lightweight cellular hollow concrete (LCHC) block is a type of masonry unit manufactured by precast technique. LCHC block is produced by the mixing of Portland cement, volcanic tuff powder, expanded clay aggregate and diatomite for building applications. LCHC blocks are lightweight and being frequent cellular hollow cleavages, give excellent thermal and acoustic performance, fire resistance and high weathering resistance to the buildings. In this research work, LCHC blocks with 28 different mixture batches were cast into a mould with vibro-compacting, de-moulded immediately and transferred to a storage area for curing up to 120 days in normal air condition. Totally 21 cellular space with 10 mm in width were placed in the block design. For each mixture, twenty four block samples were prepared and tested in the air dry condition for compressive strength and water absorption in accordance with BS 1881: Part 116. This paper initially examines how volcanic tuff powder affect the characteristics of lightweight concrete masonry mixtures and also investigates the use of quartet blends containing volcanic tuff powder, expanded clay aggregate, diatomite and cement to produce LCHC blocks for walls and partitions.   

Keywords

• Lightweight concrete
• volcanic tuff
• expanded clay
• diatomite
• masonry block

Lightweight Cellular Hollow Concrete Blocks Containing Volcanic Tuff Powder, Expanded Clay and Diatomite for Non-Load Bearing Walls

Abstract

Lightweight cellular hollow concrete (LCHC) block is a type of masonry unit manufactured by precast technique. LCHC blocks are produced by the mixing of Portland cement, volcanic tuff, expanded clay and diatomite for building applications. LCHC blocks are lightweight, and the frequent cellular holes provide excellent thermal and acoustic performance, fire resistance and resistance to harsh environmental conditions. In this research work, LCHC blocks with 28 different mix proportions were cast into a mould with vibro-compacting, de-moulded immediately and transferred to a storage area for curing up to 120 days in standard air condition at room temperature. The blocks were designed with 21 cellular spaces of 10 mm width. For each mixture, twenty four block specimens were prepared and tested in the air dry condition for compressive strength and water absorption in accordance with BS 1881: Part 116. This paper initially examines how volcanic tuff powder affects the characteristics of lightweight concrete masonry mixtures and investigates the use of quaternary blends containing volcanic tuff, expanded clay, diatomite and Portland cement to produce LCHC blocks for partitioning walls.

Keywords

• Lightweight concrete
• volcanic tuff
• expanded clay
• diatomite
• masonry block

References

1. [1] CEM IA, Concrete Masonry Units, America’s Cement Manufacturers, 2016, USA
2. [2] Gündüz L., Use of quartet blends containing fly ash, scoria, perlitic pumice and cement to produce cellular hollow lightweight masonry blocks for non-load bearing walls. Construction and Building Materials 22, 747–754, 2008.
3. [3] Turkmenoglu, A. G., Tankut, A., Use of tuffs from central Turkey as admixture in pozzolanic cements assessment of their petrographical properties. Cem. Concr. Res. 32, 4, 629-637, 2002.
4. [4] Faella, G., Manfredi, G., Realfonzo, R., Cyclic behaviour of tuff masonry walls under horizontal loading. Proc. 6th Can. Masonry Symp., Canada, 317-328, 1992.
5. [5] Iwaro, J., Mwasha, A., Effects of using coconut fiber–insulated masonry walls to achieve energy efficiency and thermal comfort in residential dwellings. Journal of Architectural Engineering, 25(1), 04018035, 2019.
6. [6] Mahoutian, M., Chaallal, O., Shao, Y., Pilot production of steel slag masonry blocks. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 45(7), 537-546, 2018.
7. [7] Annual books of ASTM standards, volume 04.02 and Volume 04.03, 2002.
8. [8] Gündüz, L., A technical report on lightweight aggregate masonry block manufacturing in Turkey. Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey, 1-110, 2005.

9. [9] Weber, S., Curing of high strength concrete using lightweight aggregates, Bauberatung Zement Stuttgarti Loenberg. 377-391, 1997.
10. [10] BS 812: Part 2, Testing aggregates. Methods for determination of density, 1995, UK.
11. [11] BS 812 : Part 110, Testing aggregates. Methods for determination of aggregate crushing value (ACV), 1990, UK.
12. [12] ASTM C127-04 Standard test method for density, relative density (specific gravity), and absorption of coarse aggregate, USA.
13. [13] ASTM C128-04a Standard test method for density, relative density (specific gravity), and absorption of fine aggregate, USA.
14. [14] Ritmann, L., Volcanoes. London, UK: Orbis Publishing; 1980.
15. [15] Toprak, M.U. and Arslanbaba, M. A., Possibility of using Kütahya Volcanic Tuff as building stone: Microstructural evaluation and strength enhancement through heat treatment. Construction and Building Materials, 110, 128–134, 2016.
16. [16] Wang J., Jung W., Li Y. And Ghassemi A., Geomechanical characterization of Newberry Tuff. Geothermics, 63, 74-96, 2016.
17. [17] Tuncay, E., Rock. Original Research Article, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 46(8), 1253-1266, 2009.
18. [18] Özguven, A. Genleşen kil agrega üretimi ve endüstriyel olarak değerlendirilmesi. PhD thesis. Isparta: University Süleyman Demirel; 2009 [in Turkish].
19. [19] Özguven, A. and Gunduz, L., Examination of effective parameters for the production of expanded clay aggregate. Cement & Concrete Composites 34, 781–787, 2012.
20. [20] Doğan, H. and Şener, F., Hafif yapı malzemeleri (pomza-perlit-ytong-gazbeton) kullanımının yaygınlaştırılmasına yönelik sonuç ve öneriler. TMMOB. The Newsletter of the Chamber of Geology Engineers, 1, 51–53, 2004 [in Turkish].
21. [21] Ha, J.H., Lee, J., Song, I. H. and Lee, S. H., The effects of diatomite addition on the pore characteristics of a pyrophyllite support layer. Ceramics International, 41(8), 9542-9548, 2015.
22. [22] Xu, S., Wang, J., Jiang, Q. and Zhang, S., Study of natural hydraulic lime-based mortars prepared with masonry waste powder as aggregate and diatomite/fly ash as mineral admixtures. Journal of Cleaner Production, 119, 118-127, 2016.
23. [23] Inchaurrondo, N., Font, J., Ramos, C.P., Haure, P., Natural diatomite: Efficient green catalyst for Fenton-like oxidation of Orange II. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 181, 481-494, 2016.
24. [24] BS 1881: Part 125, Testing concrete. Methods for mixing and sampling fresh concrete in the laboratory, 1986, UK.
25. [25] BS 1881: Part 114, Testing concrete. Methods for determination of density of hardened concrete, 1983, UK.
26. [26] BS 6073: Part 1, Precast concrete masonry units. Specification for precast concrete masonry units, 1981, UK.
27. [27] Abali, Y., Bayca, S. U., Targan, S., Evaluation of blends tincal waste, volcanic tuff, bentonite and fly ash for use as a cement admixture. J. Hazard. Mater., 131, 126-130, 2006.
28. [28] Smadi, M. M., Migdady, E., properties of high strength tuff lightweight aggregate concrete. Cem. Concr. Comp., 13(2), 129-135, 1991.
29. [29] Faustino, J., Silva, E., Pinto, J., Soares, E., Cunha, V.M.C.F., and Soares, S., Lightweight concrete masonry units based on processed granulate of corn cob as aggregate. Materiales de Construcción, 65(318), e055, 2015.
30. [30] BS EN 771-3, 2011, Specification for masonry units. Aggregate concrete masonry units (dense and lightweight aggregates).
31. [31] Neville, A.M., Properties of concrete. London, Longman Scientific and Technical series, 2000.
32. [32] TEK 2-6, Density-related properties of concrete masonry assemblies, National Concrete Masonry Association, an information series from the national authority on concrete masonry technology, 2008, USA.
33. [33] Holm, T. A., Engineered masonry with high strength lightweight concrete masonry units. Concrete Facts, 17(2), 1972.